Change-machine.



- PATENTEDOOT. 1'7, 1905. T. I. POTTER.

CHANGE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.25,190-1.

3 SHEETSSHEBT l.

No. 802,235. PATBNTED 001?. 17, 1905.

- 'I'.I.POTTBR.

CHANGE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.25.1904. I

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ATTORI/EYS N 5. PATENTED 001117 1905.

0 80223 T. I. POTTER CHANGE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W THE 8858 JTTORNEYS monzva n. 69:11:

THOMAS IRVING POTTER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CHANGE-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1905.

Application filed November 25, 1904. Serial No. 234,179.

To (ti/Z whom, it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS IRVING POTTER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of San Francisco, in the county of San Franciscoand State of California, have invented a new and ImprovedChange-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a machine adapted to anycash-drawer and from which change may be quickly and accurately made inpredetermined amounts by simply pressing one or more of a series ofkeys, each designating a certain amount, and to provide a series ofstorage-chambers for the coins from which the change is to be made.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of adrawer and the change device in place in thedrawer, a portion of which change device appears in section. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section through the said drawer and the change device, takenon the line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through thedrawer and the change device, the section being taken practically on theline 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. A is also a transverse section through thedrawer and the change device, the section being taken substantially onthe line LA of Fig. 2.. Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of the chamberadapted to contain silver dollars, one of the silver dollars being shownin position; and Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken practically onthe line 6 6 of Fig. 1, illustrating the latch for the cover of thefront reservoir-compartment and the trip for the same.

A represents a money-drawer adapted for use wherever such a drawer isrequired, and- B represents the change attachment made to the same. Thisattachment, as shown, consists of a transverse partition 10, extendingfrom the front to the rear of the drawer, the front of the drawer beingopen, and front longitudinal bars 11, the right-hand bar being more orless open at its bottom portion, as is shown in Fig. 4:. Longitudinalcentral divisional bars 12 and 13 are also provided,

together with side bars 13 and 12, whereby, as is shown in Fig. 2, theattachment is divided into practically four compartments, (designated,respectively, as B, B B", and B.) The compartment B is adapted toreceive notes or bills, and the storage-receptacles, to be hereinafterdescribed and which ase adapted to receive the change, pass from thefront of the chamber B to the rear of the next transversely-followingchamber B while the key-operating mechanism and parts directlyassociated therewith are located in the forward left-hand chamber 13*.

Five shafts D D D D D are journaled in the left-hand side bar 13 and thecentral divisional partition 10, the said shafts being mainly located inthe forward left-hand compartment 13*. Tu addition to the five shaftsjust referred to other shafts are employed, (designated, respectively,as D D, D, D, and D These latter-named shafts extend partially withinthe forward left-hand compartment B", but are mainly located in theforward right-hand compartment B and all of them are mounted to turn inthe divisional partition 10, which separates the compartments B and BSundry of these shafts are likewise journaled in a partition let,located in the compartment B and others are journaled in a secondpartition15, located in the same compartment. Each shaft D, D, D D and Dis provided with a branch at its righthand end, which branches extendout through the opening in the right-hand portion of the front bar 11 ofthe framing of the device. These forwardly-extendingbranches aredesignated, respectively, as (Z, being a portion of the shaft D, (Zbeing a portion of the shaft D, and (Z (Z and (1", respectively, shaftsD", D, and D. Each of the shafts 1) D, D D, and D is likewise providedwith a forwardly-extending member parallel with the members of theshafts D, D, D". D, and D". These members, which are designated,respectively, as (P, d, (Z (Z and d. likewise extend out through theopening at the bottom portion of the right-hand front bar 11 of theattachment. The rear shaft D within the left-hand front compartment B isprovided with a series of upwardly-extending fingers 16, adapted to turnwith the said shaft. The next forward shaft D within the samecompartment is provided with two series of upwardly-extending fingers l7and 18, sundry of the fingers in the series 18 being opposite those inthe series l6 on the shaft as connected with the D. The shaft D isprovided with four upwardly-extending fingers, (designated as 19, 20,21, and 22,) and some of these fingers are opposite the fingers in theseries on the shaft D. The next forward shaft D is provided with seriesof fingers in pairs, (designated as 23, 2 1, 25, and 26,) and sundry ofthese fingers 23, 24, 25), and 26 likewise register with the series offingers 17 and 18 on the shaft D. With reference to the forward shaft Dthis shaft is provided with a series of fingers singly mounted, the saidfingers being designated as 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34:. Some ofthese fingers are in alinement with the fingers on the shaft 1), othersbeing in alinement with the fingers on the shaft D, and others again arein alinement with the fingers 16 on the rear shaft D.

It will be understood that allof the fingers on the shafts abovementioned are within the left-hand forward compartment B, and likewisewithin this compartment B fingers are mounted on the auxiliary shafts D,D, D D and D, and at each end of the said shafts D D D and D anupwardly-extending finger is secured, while at the end of the shaft 1)",which extends into the forward left-hand compartment B, two fingers aresecured. The fingers on the shafts D D, D and D are designated,respectively, as 35, 36, 37, and 38, while the two fingers on theforward shaft D' are designated as 39 and 40, as is clearly shown inFig. 2.

In connection with the shafts above mentioned and the fingers carried bythe shafts a series of key-levers C is employed, which keylevers are intwo rows, alternating one with the other, as is shown in Fig. 1, and thesaid key-levers operate in slots produced in the upper edge of theright-hand front bar 11, as is shown also in Fig. 1. Each key-lever C isadapted to operate upon one, two, or more of the fingers on the variousshafts which have been described, so as to produce one or more movementsof one or more forward terminals of the said shafts in order to releaseone or more coins from one or more coin-receptacles, to be hereafterdescribed, at each operation of the key-lever. Each key-lever isprovided with a thumb-piece which extends out beyond the front of thedrawer, as is shown in Fig. 1, and each key-lever bears a designation.The various designations read in proper order of five, from the unit 5to 500/ representing five dollars, although I do not confine myself toany particular arrangement of such members or any particular arrangementof the key-levers, it being necessary only that their arrangement shallbe such that when operated they will cause the amount of changeexpressed on their faces to be discharged from the machine when thelevers are operated. These key-levers Care held in normal position andare restored to normal position when released through'the medium ofsprings 43, which engage with their upper edges at the rear, the saidsprings being secured between bars 12, extending longitudinally at theforward portion of the front lefthand compartment B", as is shown inFig. 3, and particularly in the same figure it will be observed that thekey-levers C are pivotally mounted at their rear ends on a common shaft11, extending from one end of the compartment B to the other at itsrear, and in the same figure it will be observed that each of thekey-levers is provided with one or more downwardly-extending fingers 0.These fingers c on the key-levers C engage with .the forward upper edgesof the lingers on the various shafts which have been named. By referenceto this same Fig. 3 it will be observed that both the fingers on theshaft and the engaging fingers extending from the key-levers are mademore or less tapering, so that in clined faces will meet, thus bringingabout not only a positive but a quickaction.

As an example of the operation of the machine at this point it may bestated that the key-lever G, bearing the designation O5, representingfive cents, when pressed operates one finger 2'7 on the forward shaftD". If the key-lever bearing the designation 25 is pressed downward, itoperates one of the fingers in the series 17 on the shaft D; but if, forexample, the key-lever bearing the number 55, representing fifty fivecents, is pressed downward it operates the linger 31 on the front shaftD", and at the same time it operates the second finger from the left onthe rear shaft D. This combination or this single operation of the kevlevers is clearly shown in Fig. 2 and it is thought need not bedescribed in detail, as it may suflice to state that the levers operatethe fingers on the various shafts mentioned in such manner as todischarge coin from receptacles to be hereinafter described to the valuewhich is expressed on the key lever or levers operated.

A cover M is provided for the drawer, particularly that portion of itwhich extends over the compartments B and B", and such cover 4% isattached to lugs 45 at the side portions of the structure. The forwardextensions from the various shafts are in the nature of crank-arms, asthey extend more or less downward and then forwardly outward, as isshown in Fig. 4, and their action when the shaft is turned is an upwardand a downward motion, as is likewise indicated in the same figure. Theouter or crank arm terminals of all of the shafts are held in theirlower or normal position (shown in Fig. 4) by means of a yoke 46, whichis pivoted in the compartment B", as is shown in Fig. 4e, and this yokeis held down to its work by means of a spring 17. in Fig. 1.)

A series of coin-containing receptacles is mounted in the compartments Band I3", extending practically from the front to the rear (Shown of theattachment. These coin 7 receiving receptacles are adapted to receive,one, nickels; the next, dimes; the next, twenty-livecent pieces; thenext, fifty-cent pieces, and the last, silver dollars. These receptaclesare designated on the drawings as E, E, E E and E. Each receptacle isprovided with a spring 48 at its rear portion, which tends to force thecoins 49 contained therein toward the front of the receptacle, wherethey are prevented from accidentally leaving the receptacle through themedium of guards 50, loeated at their lower side portions. Eachreceptaele is open at its outer end except where the guards 50 arelocated, and in the bottom of the said receptacles at the front andbetween the guards a space 52 is provided of desired width. These spacesreceive the upper edges of one or more dispensing-fingers, so calledbecause they are adapted to force a coin out from the receptaclecontaining it. A single dispensing-finger is employed for the receptaclecontaining the nickels and the receptacle containing the quarters; buttwo dispensing-fingers are employed in connection with the receptaclecontaining the dimes and the receptacle containing the half-dollars,while four of such dispensing-fingers are employed in connection withthe receptacle E", containing the silver dollars. WVhen twodispensing-fingers 51 are employed, as is shown by dotted lines in Fig.4, the upper edge of one is wider than the upper edge of the other, sothat in the upward movement of one dispensing'finger only one coin willbe lifted; but in the upward movement of the seconddispensing finger twocoins will be extracted from the receptacle. Where fourdispensingfingers are employed, (designated on the drawings as 1, 2, 3,and 4,) the same method is employed in the construction of thedispensinglinger. The dispensing-finger marked 1 will remove but onedollar from the receptacle, the dispensing-finger marked 2 will removetwo dollars, the dispensing-finger marked 3 will abstract three dollars,and the dispensing-finger marked 4 will remove four dollars fromthereceptacle E* when the lever controlling said finger is operated.

The dispensing-fingers 51 are pivotally attached, as is shown at 53 inFig. 4, to the forward ends of the crank-arm terminals of the shaftsoperated by the key-levers. ln order that the various dispensing-fingersshall be held up to their work, a guard 54 is employed, pivotallyattached by means of brackets 55 to the front portion of the compartmentB and the said guard is provided with suitable projections held inengagement with the various dispensing-fingers 51 by means of a spring57, attached to the frame of the device' and to an arm 56, which extendsfrom the guard 54.

A casing is located at the front of the l l l l compartment B. Thiscasing is provided with a downwardly and forwardly inclined rear sectionI) and with end portions 6, which meet a central portion 6?. Thiscentral portion 6 is in the nature of a drop-door, being held in closedposition by a weighted arm 6 a spring, or its equivalent in order thatwhen the key-lever is operated to effect the removal of acoin orcoinsfrom the receptacles the operator with the fingers of ,the otherhand by pressing back the arm 6? can open the door b and cause the coinor coins removed from the receptacles to drop in the palm of the hand,and by releasing the arm 5 the door b automatically closes. I g I It isvery desirable that an alarm should be sounded each time the key-lever Cis pressed down to make change and that at the same time access to theupper portion of the front casing should be obtained in order to permitthe operator to place the amount of coin re ceived in the properreceptacles E, E, E E and E*. To that end a shaft M is journaled in theside walls of the left-hand forward chamber B at the front ofsaidchamber, which shaft is provided with a crank-arm 63, extendingtransversely below all of the key-levers -O,'and at the end of the saidcrank-shaft M which projects into the chamber B contain,- ing thechangereceptacles forwardly-extending trip-arm 64 is attached or madeintegral with the said shaft. The outer or forward end of the trip-arm64 is flattened, and such arm is of such weight as to normally have adownward and forward inclination, imparting thereby the normal-upwardinclination to the crank-arm 63. The flattened end of the trip-arm 64 atthe upward movement of the said trip-arm engages with a latch 67,secured to the cover 65 for the front casing 60, and releases said latchfrom a keeper 68 on the end wall of the casing 60, as is shown in Figs.4 and'6, and when such release is effected the cover 65 is thrown openby a spring 66. (Illustrated in Fig. 4.)

Atthe left-hand end of the crank-shaft M a down wardly-extending finger69 is secured,

.as is shown in Fig. 3,'which \vhenthe cranksection. of the crank-shaftis pressed downward by operating any given key-lever G strikes a pivotedhammer 70 of a gong 71 and raises the -said hammer, then quicklyreleases it and permits said hammer to strike the gong. As thecrank-section of the crank-shaft M is depressed the trip-arm 64 israised and releases the latch 67, thus permitting the door 65 to flyopen.

It is sometimes necessary to open thedoor ver is in no manner connectedwith any of the mechanism for releasing coin from the coin-receivingreceptacles.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim as new and desire to secureby Letters Paten t 1. Ina change-machine, a series of coin-receivingreceptacles, a series of shafts at right angles to the coin-receivingreceptacles and having at one end right-angular members extending to thedelivery ends of the said receptacles, pivoted and spring-presseddispensing-fingers on the ends of the angular members of the saidshafts, and key-levers in operative connection with the said shafts.

2. In a change-machine, a series of coin-receiving receptacles, a seriesof rock-shafts at right angles to the coin-receiving receptacles andhaving right-angular'members extending to the delivery ends of the saidreceptacles, pivoted dispensing-fingers on the angular members of theshafts, a pivoted and spring-pressed guard in engagement with thedispensing-fingers, and key-levers operatively connected with the saidshafts.

3. In a change-machine,-a series of coin-receiving receptacles, a seriesof rock-shafts at right angles to the coin-receiving receptacles andhaving right-angularmembers extending to the delivery ends of the saidreceptacles, pivoted dispensing-fingers on the angular members of theshafts, a'pivoted and spring-pressed guard having a series ofprojections engaging the dispensing-fingers, key-levers, and means foroperating the shafts from the key-levers.

4. Ina change-machine, a series of coin-receiving receptacles havingfollower-springs therein, the said receptacles having their outer endsopen and provided with guards at said ends at each side of the center attheir lower portions, frock-shafts having extensions extending to thedelivery ends of the receptacles beneath the spaces between the guards,pivoted and spring-pressed dispensing-fingers on the ends of theextensions of the shaft and projecting into the spaces between theguards, key-levers, and means for operating the shafts from thekey-levers.

5. In a change-machine, a series of coin-receiving receptacles havingfollower-springs therein, the said receptacles having their outer endsopen and provided at their open outer ends with guards at'each side ofthe center of their lower portions, rock-shafts having extensions whichare carried beneath the spaces between each set of the guards of thesaid receptacles, dispensing-fingers carried by the extensions of thesaid shafts to operate all the coins in the said receptacles and workingin the said spaces between the guards at the open ends of saidreceptacles, key-levers in operative engagement with the said shafts, apivoted pressure-bar having extensions therefrom, the extensions beingin engagement with the said dispensing-fingers, and a springcontrolledkeeper for the extensions from the said shafts.

6. In a change-machine, a series of coin-receptacles, having their outerends open and provided with guard-flanges at the side portions of theiropen ends, the guard-flanges of each set being separated by a space, aseries of shafts, operating-fingers carried by the said shafts, arrangedin predetermined order, extensions from the said shafts, which extendbeneath the open end portions of the receptacles, dispensing-fingerspivoted to the extension portions of the said shafts and working in thespaces between the guard-flanges of the difi erentsets and adapted forengagement with the coins in the receptacles at the open ends of thelatter, a pivotal pressure-guard engaging with the saiddispensing-fingers, a series of key-levers, and operating-fingersextending down from the said key-levers in engagement with correspondingoperating-fingers on the said shafts.

7. In a change-machine, a series of coin-receptacles, means fordischarging coins from the receptacles, a casing at the delivery end ofthe coin-receptacles, a cover for the casing, a latch for the cover, andmeans for releasing the latch at each time change is made.

8. In a change-machine, a series of coin-receptacles, key-controlledmeans for discharging coins from the receptacles, a casing at thedelivery end of the coin-receptacles, a cover for the casing, a latchfor the cover, and means for operating the latch to release the covereach time a key is operated.

9. In a change-machine, a series of coin-receptacles, key-levers, meansfor discharging the coins from the receptacles, a casing at the deliveryend of the receptacles, a springpressed cover for the receptacles, and areleasing device for the cover operated by a key.

10. In a change-machine, a series of coin-receptacles, means fordischarging the coins from the receptacles, a casing at the delivery endof the receptacles and provided with a hinged cover, a latch for thecover, a gong, and means for releasing the latch and sounding the gongwhenever a coin is removed from a receptacle.

11. In achange-machine, aplurality of coinreceptacles, a casing at thedelivery end of the receptacles and having a hinged cover, a latch forthe cover, dispensing-fingers, keylevers, means for operating the dis'Jensingfingers from the key-levers, a rock-shaft below the key-levers,an arm extending from the rock-shaft into engagement with the latch ofthe cover, a finger also on the rock-shaft, a pivoted hammer engaged bythe linger, and a gong.

12. In a change-machine, a plurality of coinreceptacles, a plurality ofshafts provided with upwardly-extending lugs and having extensionsextending to the delivery end of the ing the said shafts from the keys.

H. In a change-machine, a series of coin-receptacles, a series of shaftshaving angular extensions extending to the delivery ends of thereceptacles, sundry of the extensions being grouped together to providea plurality of shafts for some of the receptacles, a pivoteddispensing-linger on each shaft extension, a pivoted and spring-pressedguard in front of the dispensing-fingers and engaging the said a fingersto hold them in position, pivoted keylevers, and means for operating theshafts from the key-levers.

In testimony \vhereofI have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

T. IRVING POTTER.

itnesses:

ELIZABETH V. REARDON, T. B. POTTER.

